Direct action by MEPs disrupts Parliament

STRASBOURG — Interpreters escalated their dispute over working conditions in the European Parliament Tuesday with the help of some MEPs by forcing a delay to proceedings of around 40 minutes.

A group of interpreters and some legislators occupied technical booths, preventing sound technicians from entering. The disruption meant that microphones were not turned on and so Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borisov could not deliver a scheduled speech on the outcome of Bulgaria's Council presidency.

Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker who took the floor after Borisov's delayed speech chastised MEPs for the interruption: "This is not normal. Full stop."

"That would never have been done with Mr. Macron or Mrs. Merkel," Juncker added, referring to the French president and German chancellor.

Last month, interpreters who give live translation of parliamentary proceedings into the 24 official languages of the EU, launched a campaign of industrial action in an effort to improve their working conditions. They are protesting against what they describe as a “unilateral” decision to change their working hours, including by increasing from seven to eight hours the maximum time interpreters spend in their interpretation booths translating parliamentary meetings.

Juncker has had harsh words for MEPs before. Last year, he called the Parliament “ridiculous” and accused it of showing a lack of respect for smaller countries after only a tiny fraction of MEPs showed up for a speech by the Maltese prime minister. At the time, European Parliament President Antonio Tajani angrily defended Parliament against Juncker's criticism.

"This time, I agree with you," said Tajani. "It is unacceptable to impede Parliament's work."

Tajani described the incident as a disruption by some MEPs who "slowed down the restoration of the audio system out of solidarity with the interpreters, and therefore these MEPs prevented technicians entering the room acting as if they were trade unionists."

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Fabrizia Lucato

This article is not accurate. No interpreter tried to disrupt the Plenary. It was a completely independent action by some MEPS. Of course, it was a very welcome surprise for the interpreters.

Posted on 7/3/18 | 3:09 PM CET

Agnieszka Walter-Stop

The article is again inaccurate and tendentious. It says “interpreters and some legislators occupied technical booths” which is false! No interpreters occupied anything, it was just MEP. Interpreters were just as surprised as every body else when their machine stopped working. Please correct the article. It would be better to have a more impartial attitude too.